[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 81 (Friday, April 26, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 20821]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-10187]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[ID-075-1330-EO]


Smokey Canyon Mine, Idaho; Availability of Final Supplemental 
Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of Final Supplemental Environmental 
Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability 
of the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the 
Smoky Canyon Mine, Panels B and C. The Smoky Canyon Mine, located in 
southeast Idaho, is currently operated by the J.R. Simplot Company 
(Simplot) on Federal phosphate leases administered by BLM within the 
U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Caribou-Targhee National Forest. The SEIS 
was prepared by BLM, acting as the lead agency, with USFS as a joint 
lead agency.

ADDRESSES: Limited numbers of the SEIS are available at the Bureau of 
Land Management, Pocatello Field Office, 1111 N. 8th Avenue, Pocatello, 
Idaho 83201, telephone (208) 478-6354.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Comments or questions may be directed 
to Jeff Cundick, SEIS Project Manager, Bureau of Land Management, 
Pocatello Field Office, 1111 N. 8th Avenue, Pocatello, Idaho 83201. He 
may be reached by telephone at (208) 478-6354, or by e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The SEIS supplements the original Smoky 
Canyon Phosphate Mine Environmental Impact Statement, prepared in 1982. 
The SEIS analyzes the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts 
associated with a proposal by Simplot to develop and reclaim open pits, 
haul roads, overburden disposal areas, and related facilities that 
would be utilized during operation of the B and C Panels at the Smoky 
Canyon phosphate mine. In particular, it addresses mitigation and 
monitoring related to potential mobilization of selenium contained in 
overburden produced by these operations.
    Alternatives to the Proposed Action include a No Action 
Alternative, as well as alternative methods of handling overburden to 
reduce impacts caused by the proposed mining activities. The Agency 
Preferred Alternative is the Proposed Action with mitigation measures. 
The Final SEIS also responds to comments received on the Draft SEIS, 
which was distributed for public review in July 2001. BLM intends to 
issue a Record of Decision regarding the proposed mine developments no 
sooner than 30 days after publication of a Notice of Availability of 
the SEIS in the Federal Register by the Environmental Protection 
Agency. USFS will provide BLM with recommendations for those portions 
of the project that are located in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest.

    Dated: March 28, 2002.
Joe Kraayenbrink,
Acting Pocatello Field Office Manager.
[FR Doc. 02-10187 Filed 4-25-02; 8:45 am]
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